Inaugural Foragers Market attracts huge crowds, parking problems

ANGELA THOMPSON14 Jul 2014, 9:48 p.m.

Thirroul business owners who helped scuttle plans for a beachside market in the village community - concerned it would cause traffic nightmares - say the reborn version of the event at Bulli shows their concerns were valid.

The Foragers Market opened under clear skies at Bulli Showground, bringing about 6000 people and some complaints about overcrowding and parking difficulties. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI

Thirroul business owners who helped scuttle plans for a beachside market in the village community - concerned it would cause traffic nightmares - say the reborn version of the event at Bulli shows their concerns were valid.

Organisers of the Foragers Market have vowed to fix "teething problems" associated with overcrowding at the inaugural event on Sunday, which drew about 6000 people to Bulli Showground.

The crowd was three times as big as organisers were expecting, but was in line with the scenario put forward by Thirroul business owners who objected to the market last year, when it was proposed as a weekly event at Thirroul's Tingara Park.

Shop owner Donna Brikich, who was criticised on social media for objecting to the original proposal, said she was convinced after learning of Sunday's crowd that Thirroul would not have had capacity to host it.

"We already have a growing infrastructure problem here with just one little main road in and out," she said.

"Having said that, I think that Bulli is a much more perfect position. Full credit to [the organisers] for persevering with it."

Sunday's event attracted much praise on social media but also complaints about overcrowding, parking difficulties, and a long queue for a single coffee van.

The market will operate as a weekly farmers market with up to 60 food stalls. Twelve times a year - on the second Sunday of the month - artisan products will be included, bringing stalls to 100.

Organiser Kirrily Sinclair argued the Bulli event was a "completely different concept" to that originally mooted for Thirroul.